News
CO2 Emissions Visualization Project Launched!－Carbon Footprint (CFP) Display Project for Cafeteria Menus (University of Tsukuba × Organization for DESIGN THE FUTURE)
As part of the University of Tsukuba's CO2 Reduction Project, the Organization for DESIGN THE FUTURE (DTF) of the University of Tsukuba implemented the "Visualizing the Impact on Global Warming Project," which calculated and displayed the Carbon Footprint of the University's cafeteria menus from February 26 to March 8, 2024.
The DTF is currently implementing the "CO2 Visualization Project" to work with students, and the DTF's first task for the "CO2 Reduction" is "How to visualize the invisible CO2?"
Firstly, the DTF will present the CFP of familiar food products to students and faculty members to promote "awareness" of CFP. This experience will lead to a lifestyle change, such as "thinking and acting on one's own," and further ideas to create the future. This project was carried out with the cooperation of the student planning team and SHiDAX CONTRACT FOOD SERVICE CORPORATION to provide recipes and display them in the cafeteria.
[Information about the participating cafeterias]
*Although this project was limited to two weeks, based on the results of this pilot project (including communication effects), we plan to conduct similar programs regularly, mainly for students, in the future.
Period: Monday, February 26 to Friday, March 8, 2024 (excluding Saturdays and Sundays)
Venues: All venues are within the University of Tsukuba Campus.
- Cafeteria "TSUKUBA TABLE" in 1A Building
- Restaurant Plaza "Tsukuba Demi", University Hall
- Cafeteria for Medical Sciences
Comments from Prof. NISHIO Chizuru, Director of the Organization for DESIGN THE FUTURE (Vice President for Planning, Evaluation and Public Relations)
According to the Annual Report on the Environment Annual Report on Environmental Statistics in Japan 2022, approximately 60% of the total greenhouse gas emissions (consumption basis) that cause global warming are emitted from households. Moreover, food-derived emissions account for 11%, about the same amount as emissions from transportation. We have a lot to learn about this fact. Therefore, we launched this project with the students, seeking the cooperation of SHiDAX CONTRACT FOOD SERVICE CORPORATION, which provides three cafeterias at the University of Tsukuba. We hope this opportunity makes students aware of the environmental impact caused by the meal provision and also think about not only their health but also the earth's environment.
Carbon Footprint (CFP) is an indicator that quantifies environmental impact by converting greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the entire life cycle of a product - from production through use, disposal, and recycling - into CO2. (From the SuMPO website*)
*Sustainable Management Promotion Organization (SuMPO) https://sumpo.or.jp/english.html
